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Yesterday's game was a close one. Our Padres had opportunities, but in the end they just couldn't make it happen. Maddening, some would call it. In the top of the eighth, Andy Parrino singled to lead off the inning and then scored on a Will Venable triple. With Venable on third as the tying run, no outs, and the 2-3-4 hitters due up, it seemed like Padres fans would soon have something to cheer about. However, a groundout by Chris Denorfia, lineout by Yonder Alonso, and flyout by Carlos Quentin kept Venable from scoring. To add to the misery, Jeff Baker hit a two-out single in the bottom of the inning to extend the Cubs' lead to two runs. A final shred of hope came in the ninth when Everth Cabrera hit a two-out double, but it was followed by a Nick Hundley strikeout to end the game.
Though overshadowed by the bad things, there were some good things about yesterday's game. Eric Stults opened up with four scoreless innings and he and the bullpen kept the game within reach. Also, our Padres collected nine hits, including Carlos Quentin's first homer of the year. They couldn't get it done in a crucial situation, which is definitely troublesome, but most of the game felt like a competitive one. Hopefully they can learn from it and salvage the final game of the series today.
Anthony Bass will be looking to get our padres out of this slump and end this road trip on a high note. He had a rough time in his last outing, when he allowed six runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings against the Mets. While Bass hasn't been completely dominant as a starter, he has stepped up and been pretty solid since filling a spot in our decimated rotation.
Pitching opposite Bass will be Ryan Dempster, who is playing for his first victory since last August. He is currently on a string of 17 starts without a win and hopes the Padres can be his slump buster, just like they were the Cubs' slump buster.
Today's #Padres lineup vs. #Cubs: Venable 8, Cabrera 6, Alonso 3, Quentin 7, Headley 5, Denorfia 9, Hundley 2, Amarista 4, Bass 1.
— Follow The Padres (@FollowThePadres) May 30, 2012
It's been a rough road trip. Our Padres have lost eight of nine so far after being swept by the Cardinals, losing three of four against the Mets, and dropping the first two of this Cubs series. Tomorrow they will have a much-needed day off and hopefully they can regroup and get ready for a great homestand. But first they gotta get through this game, salvage a win in the series, and board a happy flight home.
GO FRIARS!! KEEP THE FAITH!!